Salesforce Surges 3.5% on Activist Stake and AI Momentum

Summary
• Salesforce (CRM) trades at $241.65, up 3.5% intraday
• Intraday high of $241.92, low of $234.63
• Turnover of 5.18M shares, 0.56% of float
• 52-week range of $226.48–$369.00

Today’s 3.5% rally in Salesforce reflects a confluence of activist investor activity and AI-driven growth optimism. With Starboard’s stake increase and Data Cloud’s revenue surge, the stock is testing key technical levels amid a broader sector upswing.

Activist Investor Starboard and AI-Driven Growth Fuel CRM's Rally
Salesforce’s intraday surge is directly tied to activist investor Starboard’s increased stake, signaling potential management changes. Simultaneously, the company’s Data Cloud division is gaining traction, with revenue growth outpacing expectations. These factors, combined with a bullish reversal candle near $230, have ignited short-term buying interest.

Application Software Sector Gains Momentum as Microsoft Trails
The Application Software sector, led by Microsoft (MSFT) at -0.03%, shows mixed momentum. Salesforce’s 3.5% gain contrasts with Microsoft’s slight dip, highlighting investor rotation toward AI-focused plays. Salesforce’s Data Cloud expansion positions it as a key beneficiary of the sector’s AI-driven transformation.

Bullish ETF and Options Plays Amid Technical Breakouts
• 200-day average: 293.74 (below current price)
• RSI: 17.67 (oversold)
• MACD: -8.43 (bearish divergence)
• Bollinger Bands: 226.32–280.57 (current price near upper band)

CRM’s technicals suggest a short-term rebound after hitting oversold levels. Key support at $240 and resistance at $245. The Leverage Shares 2X Long CRM Daily ETF (CRMG), up 6.48%, amplifies exposure to near-term volatility. For options, CRM20250822C240 and CRM20250822C245 stand out:

• CRM20250822C240: Call option, strike $240, IV 30.29%, leverage 42.52%, delta 0.601, theta -0.886, gamma 0.0355, turnover 1.06M. High liquidity and moderate delta make this ideal for a 5% upside scenario (payoff: $241.65 → $241.65–$240 = $1.65 per share).
• CRM20250822C245: Call option, strike $245, IV 30.73%, leverage 73.44%, delta 0.421, theta -0.710, gamma 0.0355, turnover 374K. Strong gamma and IV suggest responsiveness to price swings, with a 5% upside payoff of $241.65–$245 = $0.00 (break-even).

Aggressive bulls may consider CRM20250822C240 into a bounce above $245.

Backtest Salesforce Stock Performance
The backtest of Salesforce (CRM) after a 4% intraday increase shows favorable performance metrics. The 3-Day win rate is 55.63%, the 10-Day win rate is 54.34%, and the 30-Day win rate is 54.34%, indicating a higher probability of positive returns in the short term. The maximum return during the backtest was 1.69% over 30 days, suggesting that CRM can continue to perform well in the immediate aftermath of a significant price increase.

Bullish Setup for Salesforce: Key Levels and Options to Watch
CRM’s 3.5% rally is supported by oversold RSI and a bullish reversal pattern, but the 200-day average at $293.74 remains a distant hurdle. The CRM20250822C240 call offers high leverage for a near-term rebound, while the sector’s AI momentum—led by Microsoft’s -0.03%—suggests continued focus on innovation-driven plays. Watch the $240 support and $245 resistance. If the 240 call holds, consider a CRM20250822C240 buy to capitalize on the bounce.